US20130138938A1 - Method, recording medium, and electronic device for reducing boot time - Google Patents

Method, recording medium, and electronic device for reducing boot time Download PDF

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Publication number
US20130138938A1
US20130138938A1 US13/330,267 US201113330267A US2013138938A1 US 20130138938 A1 US20130138938 A1 US 20130138938A1 US 201113330267 A US201113330267 A US 201113330267A US 2013138938 A1 US2013138938 A1 US 2013138938A1
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Prior art keywords
electronic device
devices
bios
loading
identified
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US13/330,267
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English (en)
Inventor
Yousok BANG
Jonghwa Shin
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LG Electronics Inc
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LG Electronics Inc
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Priority to US13/330,267 priority Critical patent/US20130138938A1/en
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC. reassignment LG ELECTRONICS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BANG, YOUSOK, SHIN, JONGHWA
Publication of US20130138938A1 publication Critical patent/US20130138938A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
    • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
    • G06F9/22—Microcontrol or microprogram arrangements
    • G06F9/24—Loading of the microprogram
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
    • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
    • G06F9/44—Arrangements for executing specific programs
    • G06F9/4401—Bootstrapping
    • G06F9/4411—Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of reducing the boot time of an electronic device, a recording medium on which the method is recorded, and an electronic device to which the method is applied.
  • BIOS Basic Input Output System
  • the OS loads drivers, corresponding to various devices included in the computer, into the memory so that the various devices can be properly controlled in response to a user's input/command. Accordingly, the computer enters a preparation state for being operated as the user wants. While the preparation step of the computer is performed (in particular, when the preparation state is almost completed), the OS outputs a basic screen (e.g., a wallpaper of the Windows OS by Microsoft Corporation) for enabling a user to normally use the computer to a display module included in or connected to the computer, such as a monitor.
  • a basic screen e.g., a wallpaper of the Windows OS by Microsoft Corporation
  • the user may not perform a series of operations for using the computer, such as performing specific input to the computer or issuing a specific command to the computer until the basic screen is displayed after turning ‘on’ the power button of the computer in order to use the computer. For this reason, the user considers the time taken for the basic screen of the OS to be displayed after power is turned on as a ‘boot time’.
  • an electronic device i.e., for improving the boot speed of the electronic device
  • a method of booting an electronic device including hiding at least one first device of devices, included in the electronic device, through an initial start-up program; loading drivers corresponding to the remaining devices other than the at least one first device, from among the included devices, by driving an Operating System (OS) of the electronic device; and unhiding the hidden at least one first device through the initial start-up program according to a predetermined event.
  • OS Operating System
  • loading a driver corresponding to the at least one first device may be further performed through the OS.
  • Loading the driver corresponding to the at least one first device may be executed or completed after a basic screen for user input provided by the OS is displayed.
  • Hiding the at least one first device may include at least one of blocking the supply of power to the at least one first device, blocking the supply of a clock to the at least one first device, maintaining the at least one first device in a reset state, and distorting information about the at least one first device and transferring the distorted information to the OS.
  • Unhiding the hidden at least one first device may include at least one of starting the supply of the power to the at least one first device, starting the supply of the clock to the at least one first device, preparing the at least one first device in a standby state or a reset clear state, and transferring the information about the at least one first device to the OS.
  • the predetermined event may include at least one of the loading of a predetermined service or a predetermined script or both through the OS, the generation of a logon event through the OS, an elapse of a predetermined time, and the generation of access to the at least one first device.
  • the OS may do not search for the at least one first device until the at least one first device is unhidden.
  • an electronic device including a plurality of devices; first memory for storing an initial start-up program; second memory for storing an Operating System (OS); and a controller for hiding at least one first device of the plurality of devices through the initial start-up program, loading drivers corresponding to remaining devices other than the at least one first device, from among the plurality of devices, by driving the OS, and unhiding the hidden at least one first device through the initial start-up program according to a predetermined event.
  • OS Operating System
  • the controller may load a driver corresponding to the at least one first device through the OS, after the at least one first device is unhidden. Furthermore, the controller may load the driver corresponding to the at least one first device so that the loading of the driver corresponding to the at least one first device is finished, after a basic screen for user input provided by the OS is displayed.
  • the controller may hide the at least one first device by performing at least one of blocking the supply of power to the at least one first device, blocking the supply of a clock to the at least one first device, maintaining the at least one first device in a reset state, and distorting information about the at least one first device and transferring the distorted information to the OS.
  • the controller may unhide the at least one first device by performing at least one of starting the supply of the power to the at least one first device, starting the supply of the clock to the at least one first device, preparing the at least one first device in a standby state, and transferring the information about the at least one first device to the OS.
  • the predetermined event may include at least one of the loading of a predetermined service or a predetermined script or both through the OS, the generation of a logon event through the OS, an elapse of a predetermined time, and the generation of access to the at least one first device.
  • the OS may do not search for the at least one first device until the at least one first device is unhidden.
  • a recording medium on which an initial start-up program for executing a method of hiding at least one first device, selected from among a plurality of devices included in an electronic device, and of an Operating System (OS) of the electronic device loading drivers corresponding to the remaining devices other than the at least one first device, from among the plurality of devices, and unhiding the hidden at least one first device through the initial start-up program according to a predetermined event is recorded.
  • OS Operating System
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an electronic device related to some embodiments of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a method of reducing the boot time of an electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a method of reducing the boot time of an electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a method of reducing the boot time of an electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention.
  • An electronic device described in this specification may include a computer, such as a Personal Computer (PC), a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a terminal for digital broadcasting, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), and a navigator.
  • PC Personal Computer
  • PDA Personal Digital Assistant
  • PMP Portable Multimedia Player
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an electronic device related to some embodiments of the present invention.
  • the electronic device 100 may include a controller 110 , a bus 120 , Read Only Memory (ROM) 130 , Random Access Memory (RAM) 140 , and various types of devices 150 .
  • ROM Read Only Memory
  • RAM Random Access Memory
  • the controller 110 is a device commonly called a Central Processing Unit (hereinafter referred to as a ‘CPU’).
  • the CPU 110 is the main control means of the electronic device and configured to perform overall control on the electronic device, such as the interpretation of a command, the operation of data, and comparison.
  • the bus 120 is a hardware module or a software module or both which is commonly called a system bus and is means for connecting the ROM 130 , the RAM 140 , and the devices 150 to the CPU 110 .
  • the bus 120 may include a northbridge for connecting the elements of the electronic device, requiring a fast transmission speed and high system performance, to the CPU 110 and a southbridge for connecting the elements of the electronic device, requiring a relatively slow transmission speed and relatively low system performance, to the CPU 110 .
  • the CPU 110 can receive various data from the ROM 130 , the RAM 140 , and the devices 150 and transmit the results of interpretation, operation, and comparison of the received data to the ROM 130 , the RAM 140 , and the devices 150 , through the bus 120 .
  • the ROM 130 is an information storage device formed of non-volatile memory means, such as flash memory, and firmware or software, such as a Basic Input Output System (BIOS), may be stored in the ROM 130 .
  • BIOS Basic Input Output System
  • the ROM 130 is formed of non-volatile memory and thus is configured to store pieces of information that must be retained although power is not supplied to the electronic device 100 . In general, the ROM 130 is connected to the southbridge.
  • the RAM 140 is a device commonly called a main storage device.
  • the ROM 140 may store data, such as an OS necessary for the electronic device to perform tasks, data, such as programs being enabled, or data to be operated, or all of them.
  • the RAM 140 is connected to the northbridge.
  • the plurality of devices 150 refers to modules that are included in the electronic device 100 or connected to the electronic device 100 and are configured to perform various functions.
  • the devices 150 may include interface modules for performing functions of providing an interface between the devices 150 and the CPU 110 and function execution modules that are connected to the interface modules and configured to perform functions specific to the interface modules.
  • the interface modules may include, for example, modules operated by various interface modules, such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), a Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), and an Intel Management Interface controller.
  • PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect
  • IDE Integrated Drive Electronics
  • SATA Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
  • USB Universal Serial Bus
  • HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface
  • SCSI Small Computer System Interface
  • Intel Management Interface controller an Intel Management Interface controller
  • the function execution modules may include, for example, various pieces of hardware or various pieces of software or both, such as a video controller (e.g., a graphic card), a modem, an audio controller (e.g., an audio card), a camera (e.g., a web cam), a hard disk, a Bluetooth module, and a Wi-Fi module.
  • a video controller e.g., a graphic card
  • a modem e.g., an audio card
  • an audio controller e.g., an audio card
  • a camera e.g., a web cam
  • a hard disk e.g., a hard disk
  • Bluetooth module e.g., a Wi-Fi module
  • the electronic device 100 may detect the various devices 150 connected thereto and determine whether the various devices 150 are normally operated by performing the operations of the BIOS stored in the ROM 130 .
  • the BIOS may detect the devices 150 and determine whether the various devices 150 are normally operated by performing a series of diagnosis test processes called a Power On Self Test (POST).
  • POST Power On Self Test
  • the BIOS may supply power to each of the devices 150 .
  • the BIOS may also perform an operation of initializing each of the devices 150 in hardware so that the device can be normally operated. For example, in order to initialize each device 150 in hardware, the BIOS may make the device a standby state by clearing the reset of the device and also start supplying a clock necessary to drive the system.
  • an Operating System stored in an auxiliary storage device, such as a hard disk, may be fetched and loaded into the RAM 140 .
  • the BIOS may provide the OS with information about each of the devices included in or connected to the electronic device 100 .
  • the OS may initialize each of the devices, included in or connected to the electronic device 100 , in software.
  • the software initialization of the devices may be performed by loading drivers necessary to control the respective devices into the RAM 140 , etc.
  • the OS may perform various stages (e.g., operations, such as the execution of various services or various scripts or both necessary to operate the electronic device 100 ) necessary to normally operate the electronic device 100 in addition to the tasks for loading the drivers.
  • the OS may display a basic screen, provided so that a user can normally input data or commands or both to the electronic device 100 , through a display device, such as a monitor, thus completing the booting process.
  • a first embodiment of a method of reducing the boot time of the electronic device 100 according to an aspect of the present invention which may be applied to the electronic device 100 is described in detail below. It is to be noted that although the method of reducing the boot time of the electronic device 100 of FIG. 1 according to an aspect of the present invention is described by taking the electronic device 100 as an example, for convenience of description, the method is not necessarily limited to the electronic device 100 described with reference to FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the method of reducing the boot time of the electronic device 100 according to the aspect of the present invention.
  • power may start being supplied to the electronic device 100 at step S 100 .
  • power may start being supplied to the electronic device 100 through an operation, such as an action in which a user presses a power button included in the electronic device 100 .
  • the electronic device 100 may start the BIOS at step S 101 .
  • the operations of the electronic device 100 may be controlled by the BIOS stored in the ROM 130 .
  • the BIOS may search for the various devices 150 included in or connected to the electronic device 100 as described above at step S 103 .
  • the BIOS may hide some selected devices of the retrieved devices 150 at step S 105 .
  • the devices hidden at step S 105 from among the devices 150 included in or connected to the electronic device 100 , are hereinafter called first devices and the remaining devices not hidden are called second devices, for convenience of description. A method of hiding the first devices selected by the BIOS will be described in detail later.
  • the devices hidden at step S 105 may include a PCI, a USB, and HDMI, a modem, SATA, etc., but not necessarily limited thereto. Some of the illustrated devices may not be hidden, and other devices not illustrated may be hidden.
  • an OS is loaded into the electronic device 100 at step S 203 , and thus the control right of the electronic device 100 is handed over from the BIOS to the OS.
  • drivers for the second devices may be loaded by the OS, and thus the second devices become a preparation state for normal operations.
  • the OS may search for the devices included in the electronic device 100 or receive information about the devices from the BIOS.
  • the OS loads the drivers for the devices on the basis of the retrieved results or the information received from the BIOS or both.
  • the BIOS intentionally hides the first devices, the OS loads only drives for the remaining devices other than the hidden first devices.
  • the BIOS may unhide the hidden first devices when a predetermined event is generated at step S 107 .
  • a method of the BIOS unhiding the hidden first devices and types of the predetermined events will be described in detail later. Accordingly, the OS may load drivers corresponding to the unhidden first devices at step S 205 .
  • the OS outputs a basic screen (e.g., a wallpaper provided by the Windows OS of Microsoft Corporation), and the user can normally use the electronic device 100 for the first time.
  • a basic screen e.g., a wallpaper provided by the Windows OS of Microsoft Corporation
  • the hiding step S 105 of the devices is first described below.
  • the hiding of the devices is performed on only some selected from among the devices 150 included in the electronic device 100 .
  • a method of selecting the first devices may be various.
  • the simplest method is a method of maintaining a list of devices other than devices (i.e., the second devices) positively necessary for the booting operation and selecting the devices, belonging to the list, as the first devices.
  • the devices positively necessary for the booting operation refer to devices in which the loading of an OS is impossible or several stages included in the boot sequence of the OS cannot be normally performed, if the devices are not normally operated.
  • the devices positively necessary for the booting operation may typically include a device, such as an auxiliary storage device in which an OS is stored.
  • the list may be set as a basic value, but may be modified by a user.
  • a list of the first devices may be modified by the setting of a user through a user interface, such as the setting screen of the BIOS.
  • the device hiding (S 105 ) operation is performed on the first devices selected according to the above method.
  • the hiding of the devices may be performed by a power control method, a reset control method, a clock control method, and an information distortion method. Each of the device hiding methods is described in detail below.
  • the power control method refers to a method of hiding devices according to a method of intentionally blocking power supplied to the devices.
  • the BIOS may intentionally block the supply of power to the first devices, selected according to the above method, so that the first devices cannot be normally operated.
  • the supply of power to the first devices may be blocked when power is first supplied at step S 100 , but may preferably be blocked after the BIOS searches for devices at step S 103 .
  • the reset control method refers to a method of hiding devices according to a method in which the BIOS continues to maintain the devices in a reset state instead of preparing the devices for a standby state.
  • the BIOS may intentionally maintain the selected first devices in the reset state so that the first devices cannot be normally operated. In this case, the OS cannot search for the first devices because the first devices maintain the reset state although power is normally supplied to the first devices. Accordingly, the first devices can be hidden for the OS.
  • the clock control method refers to a method of hiding devices according to a method in which the BIOS does not supply a clock.
  • the BIOS may not intentionally supply a clock, positively necessary for the operation of each device, to the selected first devices so that the first devices cannot be normally operated.
  • the OS cannot search for the first devices because a clock is not supplied to the first devices and thus the first devices cannot be normally operated although power is normally supplied to the first devices. Accordingly, the first devices can be hidden for the OS.
  • the information distortion method refers to a method in which the BIOS provides an OS with false information so that the OS cannot normally search for devices.
  • the BIOS provides the OS with information about devices retrieved as the result of performing the step S 103 , and the OS searches for the device, included in the electronic device 100 , based on the received information. If the BIOS intentionally excludes information about the selected first devices from the information about the retrieved devices and provides the information about the selected first devices to the OS, the first devices can be hidden for the OS because the OS cannot search for the first devices. In this case, although power and a clock are normally supplied to the selected first devices and the BIOS prepares the selected first devices in a standby state, the first devices can be hidden because the OS cannot normally scan the first devices.
  • the hiding of the devices may be performed by using any one of the four kinds of methods as described above, but may be performed by a combination of two or more of the four kinds of methods.
  • the device hiding operation may be performed by any one of various methods, but the object of device hiding is to prevent an OS from normally detecting devices included in or connected to the electronic device 100 . It is preferred that, in either case, the device hiding operation be performed before the bus 120 is scanned in order to search for the devices included in or connected to the electronic device 100 . That is, if the OS starts scanning the bus at the request of the BIOS, it will be preferred that even after the OS is loaded, the BIOS perform the device hiding operation before the BIOS requests the OS to scan the bus. If the bus 120 is automatically scanned when the OS is loaded, it will be preferred that the BIOS perform the device hiding operation before the OS is loaded.
  • the first devices included in the electronic device 100 or connected to the electronic device 100 may be hidden, or some selected from among plurality of channels provided by the first devices may be hidden.
  • USB devices all the USB devices may be hidden by hiding a USB controller for controlling the USB devices. Accordingly, modules or all the external devices or both that are included in or connected to the electronic device 100 through the USB devices can be hidden for an OS.
  • USB controller in itself may not be hidden, but specific modules or specific electronic devices connected to the USB devices may not be hidden.
  • external devices connected to the USB devices such as the keyboard or the mouse, may not be hidden.
  • the electronic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be configured so that it satisfies more various user preferences or more various user needs or both.
  • the device unhiding operation (S 107 ) may be performed by performing an operation opposite to the device hiding operation (S 105 ).
  • the device unhiding operation may be performed by again supplying an OS with information about devices into which actual information not distorted is incorporated.
  • the device unhiding operation may be performed by supplying a clock to relevant devices.
  • the device unhiding operation may be performed by switching relevant devices from a reset state to a standby state.
  • the device unhiding operation may be performed by supplying power to relevant devices. If devices have been hidden according to the power control method, the devices can be normally unhidden only when a reset is released and a clock starts being supplied after power is supplied.
  • the device unhiding method may be determined depending on the device hiding method. Accordingly, if devices have been hidden by a combination of two or more of the four kinds of methods, the devices can be unhidden by a combination of two or more of the four kinds of methods, corresponding to the two or more methods used to hide the devices. For example, if devices have been hidden by a combination of the clock control method and the reset control method, the BIOS has to release the reset of the devices and at the same time start supplying a clock to the devices in order to unhide the devices.
  • the common boot sequence of an OS can be intentionally changed by hiding a specific device.
  • the OS finishes preparations (e.g., the loading of various devices included in the electronic device 100 ) for using the various devices and then displays a basic screen to a user.
  • the time when the various devices included in the electronic device 100 are prepared to be used can be intentionally controlled.
  • the drivers for the selected first devices may start being loaded before the OS displays the basic screen to the user, after the OS displays the basic screen to the user, or almost at the same time when the OS displays the basic screen to the user.
  • the boot time felt by a user i.e., the time taken for the basic screen to be displayed after the user turns on power
  • the time when the drivers for the first devices start being loaded It is preferred that the time when the drivers for the first devices finish being loaded be after the basic screen is displayed.
  • the devices having the loading of their drivers intentionally delayed continue to be hidden or the time for which the devices are hidden is long, however, there may be a problem that the devices may not be normally operated when a user uses the devices.
  • the predetermined event may be set according to various methods.
  • the BIOS may designate a specific service or a specific script or both, from among various services or various scripts or both loaded by the OS, so that the loading of the designated service or the designated script or both is set as the predetermined event.
  • the BIOS may set a logon event, generated by the OS, as the predetermined event.
  • the BIOS may set an elapse of some time (e.g., 10 seconds) from a specific reference time (e.g., when the OS first scans the bus) as the predetermined event.
  • some time e.g. 10 seconds
  • a specific reference time e.g., when the OS first scans the bus
  • the BIOS may set access, generated based on service or software or both whose execution has been requested by a user for a specific device, as the predetermined event.
  • the electronic device 100 can reduce the boot time by the time taken for drivers for the remaining devices other than essential devices to be loaded. Furthermore, the electronic device 100 can load the drivers for the respective devices at an appropriate time so that the devices can be normally operated when a user actually uses the devices.
  • the device unhiding operation on all the first devices may not be performed at the same time, and the unhiding time may be differently set for the first devices.
  • a USB device may be unhidden at a first time
  • an HDMI device may be unhidden at a second time.
  • the first embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.
  • boot time felt by a user can be significantly reduced because the device unhiding operation (S 107 ) is controlled so that it is started when a basic screen (e.g., a wallpaper of the MS Windows) for enabling a user to operate an electronic device starts being displayed or after the basic screen is displayed, although not necessarily limited.
  • a basic screen e.g., a wallpaper of the MS Windows
  • the OS of the electronic device is the MS Windows, for convenience of description of the present invention.
  • the BIOS i.e., firmware
  • S 105 the BIOS configured to perform an operation related to device hiding
  • the boot speed can be improved independently from an OS.
  • the boot speed can be significantly improved by merely changing a simple BIOS design without a change of a special design for an OS.
  • boot time can be reduced irrespective of a type of a device included in an electronic device because the time taken to load drivers for various devices is not included in the boot time felt by a user.
  • a second embodiment of a method of reducing the boot time of an electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention which may be applied to the electronic device 100 is described in detail below.
  • the second embodiment is described with reference to the electronic device 100 of FIG. 1 , for convenience of description, but the method according to the second embodiment of the present invention is not necessarily limited and applied to the electronic device 100 described with reference to FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the second embodiment of the method of reducing the boot time of the electronic device 100 according to an aspect of the present invention.
  • power may start being supplied to the electronic device 100 at step S 300 .
  • the electronic device 100 may start the BIOS at step S 301 .
  • the BIOS may search for the various devices 150 that are included in the electronic device 100 or connected to the electronic device 100 as described above at step S 303 .
  • the BIOS may initialize the retrieved devices (e.g., the supply of power, reset control, and the supply of a clock) and then provide the OS with information about the retrieved devices, unlike in the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the retrieved devices e.g., the supply of power, reset control, and the supply of a clock
  • the OS is loaded into the electronic device 100 at step S 403 , and thus the control right of the electronic device 100 is handed over from the BIOS to the OS.
  • the OS may select devices to be loaded with delay from among he retrieved devices 150 , at step S 403 .
  • the devices to be loaded with delay may be selected by taking information, previously set in the OS, into consideration or may be selected by taking information, provided by the BIOS, into consideration. If the devices to be loaded with delay are selected by taking the information, provided by the BIOS, into consideration, the information about the devices to be loaded with delay may be previously stored in the BIOS. The information may be provided to the OS along with the information about the retrieved devices which is provided by the BIOS at step S 303 .
  • the OS may load drivers for basic devices other than the devices to be loaded with delay, from among the retrieved devices 150 , at step S 405 .
  • the devices to be loaded with delay according to the second embodiment of the present invention may conceptually correspond to the first devices described in connection with the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the basic devices according to the second embodiment of the present invention may conceptually correspond to the second devices described in connection with the first embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, a description of a criterion for selecting the devices to be loaded with delay and the basic devices and a conceptual description thereof are omitted.
  • the OS may load drivers for the devices to be loaded with delay at step S 407 .
  • the time when the step S 407 is performed may be set similarly to the time when the device unhiding operation described in connection with the first embodiment of the present invention is performed. More particularly, a specific service or a specific script or both may be designated from among various services or various scripts or both loaded by the OS. The time when the designated service or the designated script or both is loaded, the time when a logon event is generated by the OS, the time after an elapse of some time (e.g., 10 seconds) from a specific reference time (e.g., when the OS first scans the bus), or the time when access is generated based on service or software or both whose execution has been requested by a user for a specific device may be set as the time when the step S 407 is performed.
  • some time e.g. 10 seconds
  • a specific reference time e.g., when the OS first scans the bus
  • the time when access is generated based on service or software or both whose execution has been requested by a user for a specific device may be set as the time when
  • the time when the step S 407 will be performed is set according to various methods as in the first embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, the electronic device 100 can reduce the boot time by the time taken for drivers for the remaining devices (i.e., the devices to be loaded with delay) other than the basic devices to be loaded. Furthermore, the electronic device 100 can load the drivers for the devices at an appropriate time so that the devices can be normally operated when a user actually uses the devices.
  • the manufacturer of the electronic device 100 can change a design for the BIOS (i.e., firmware provided to the electronic device 100 ) alone in order to achieve an intended object.
  • the electronic device 100 may be designed so that the electronic device is operated according to the method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • a third embodiment of a method of reducing the boot time of an electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention which may be applied to the electronic device 100 is described in detail below.
  • the third embodiment is described with reference to the electronic device 100 of FIG. 1 , for convenience of description.
  • USB legacy A function commonly called ‘USB legacy’ is supported by the BIOS.
  • the BIOS When the USB legacy function is set to ‘Enable’ in the BIOS, the BIOS in itself initializes USB devices so that external devices connected to the USB devices can be used from a booting initial stage before the OS is loaded. If the USB legacy function is set to ‘Disable’, the USB devices are not initialized by the BIOS, but are initialized by the OS. Accordingly, the external devices connected to the USB devices can be used after the OS is loaded.
  • a user tries to use the electronic device 100 by selectively connecting an external device to a USB device (e.g., when the electronic device is booted through the OS recorded on an external storage medium connected thereto through the USB device), the user has to directly change the setting of the BIOS.
  • USB legacy function is always set to ‘Enable” by default in order to remove this problem, the total boot time is increased by the time that the BIOS takes to initialize the USB device.
  • the method of reducing the boot time of the electronic device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has been made to solve the above problem.
  • the USB legacy function is selectively turned on or off by taking state information about the electronic device into consideration.
  • the boot time can be reduced in normal conditions and user inconvenience can also be reduced because USB devices are automatically initialized when a user selectively uses the USB legacy function.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the third embodiment of the method of reducing the boot time of the electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention.
  • step S 500 when power is supplied to the electronic device 100 at step S 500 , the BIOS of the electronic device is started at step S 510 .
  • the BIOS may check the state of the electronic device at step S 520 .
  • An embodiment regarding the state of the electronic device to be checked by the BIOS may be very various, but some examples thereof are described in order to help easily understand the present invention.
  • the BIOS may check whether external electronic devices are connected to the USB devices of the electronic device.
  • the BIOS may check whether the booting sequences of USB devices set through the BIOS of the electronic device are given a specific priority or higher. For example, the BIOS may check whether the booting sequences of the USB devices are given the highest priority or whether the booting sequences of the USB devices are given priorities higher than a hard disk drive in which the OS is stored (but the booting sequences of the USB devices are not necessarily given the highest priority).
  • the BIOS may check other states for the electronic device through which a user's intention to use a USB device can be checked. For example, if a signal being inputted by a user is detected through the keyboard (i.e., one of external devices connected to the electronic device through USB devices), it can be seen that the user has intention of using the USB device.
  • the BIOS selectively turns on (i.e., enable) the USB legacy function. If the user's intention to use a USB device is not checked, the BIOS selectively turns off (i.e., disable) the USB legacy function at step S 530 .
  • the BIOS checks whether the USB legacy function is turned on or off at step S 540 . If, as a result of the check, the USB legacy function is turned on, the BIOS initializes the USB device at step S 550 . If, as a result of the check, the USB legacy function is turned off, the BIOS does not initialize the USB device.
  • the USB legacy function is selectively turned on or off, there are advantages in that the boot time can be reduced in normal situations and user inconvenience can be reduced because a USB device is automatically initialized when a user selectively uses the USB legacy function.
  • the third embodiment of the present invention discloses the method in which the BIOS may select USB devices by selectively enabling or disabling the USB devices has been disclosed, but not necessarily limited and applied to the USB devices.
  • the third embodiment of the present invention may also be applied to devices (e.g., SATA, IDE, and PCI according to the existing interface methods and devices according to other interface methods that may be standardized and provided in the future) other than the USB devices.
  • the present invention has the following advantages.
  • boot time felt by a user can be significantly reduced because the device unhiding operation (S 107 ) is controlled so that it is started when a basic screen (e.g., a wallpaper of the MS Windows) for enabling a user to operate an electronic device starts being displayed or after the basic screen is displayed, although not necessarily limited.
  • a basic screen e.g., a wallpaper of the MS Windows
  • BIOS i.e., firmware
  • the boot speed can be improved independently from an OS.
  • the boot speed can be significantly improved by merely changing a simple BIOS design without a change of a special design for an OS.
  • boot time can be reduced irrespective of a type of a device included in an electronic device because the time taken to load drivers for various devices is not included in the boot time felt by a user.
  • USB legacy function is selectively turned on or off
  • the boot time can be reduced in normal situations and user inconvenience can be reduced because a USB device is automatically initialized when a user selectively uses the USB legacy function.
  • the various embodiments of this document may be implemented using computer readable medium.
  • the medium may include program codes, data files, and data structure for implementing the embodiment of this document solely or in combination.
  • An example of the medium may include a medium configured to store and execute program commands, such as magnetic media, optical recording media, such as CD and DVD, ROM, RAM, and flash memory.
  • the program codes may include, for example, not only machine codes produced by a compiler, but also high-level language codes executable by a computer using an interpreter.

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KR20130073865A (ko) 2013-07-03
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CN103229138A (zh) 2013-07-31
KR101390009B1 (ko) 2014-04-29

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